May 22, 2004
THE WAGES OF ANTI-AMERICANISM:
US redeployments to Iraq rattle South Korean alliance: Seoul is trying to downplay fears of further withdrawals. (Donald Kirk, 5/20/04, CS Monitor)
The United States has opened a new chapter in its relationship with South Korea by what some here see as a precipitous decision to pull a combat infantry brigade from the historic invasion route between North Korea and this teeming capital 30 miles to the south.While people sometimes joke that an invading army would bog down in mammoth Korean-style traffic jams on the way, the presence of 14,000 frontline troops with the US Second Infantry Division is still viewed here as a vital tripwire for US pledges to defend Korea in the face of North Korea's million-plus army.
In a visit here last November, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld impressed on Korean leaders his plan for restructuring US forces in Asia, including the repositioning further south of the 2nd Division. The understanding, however, was that the US headquarters in Seoul would be the first to move south of the capital, while the 2nd Division would remain in place for several more years and the US would keep 37,000 troops in the country.
But the sudden decision to transfer one infantry brigade - the first reduction of US troops in Korea since the 1970s has led many analysts here to view the plan as a sign that the US will ultimately give up its commitment to Korea's defence.
Oh, so that's why you don't tug on Superman's cape... Posted by Orrin Judd at May 22, 2004 7:49 PM
Take all our troops out. South Korea ise strong enough to hold their own if they have the will.
To place our troops there on the DMZ as a tripwire is demeaning.
We've given all we need to and more.
As a former Marine Rifleman who climbed the hills and shed some blood willingly in 1951, I say the party's over. We have bigger fish to fry now.
Posted by: genecis at May 22, 2004 9:07 PMTell the Koreans to take their whining to any Little Saigon in America and see how much sympathy they get. US airpower is all that would be necessary to keep deterrence as strong as it's ever been.
Posted by: brian at May 22, 2004 10:44 PMThe carping by the left and Dems that moving troops from SK to Iraq was further sign of the Iraq quagmire obscures the fact that moving troops out of SK is the right thing to do.
Posted by: AWW at May 22, 2004 11:07 PMAnd what the hell are 100,000 troops still doing in Germany??
Posted by: Andrew X at May 23, 2004 9:15 AMSame goes for them. Let the French take care of the Germans and the Russians. The party's over folks.
Posted by: genecis at May 23, 2004 9:41 AMUh make that: The party's over volks!
Posted by: genecis at May 23, 2004 9:50 AMAnother volume of the best-selling Michael Moore low-veracity diet?
Posted by: Barry Meislin at May 23, 2004 10:39 AMRepositioning our troops to the south is actually a very (though counter intuitively) agressive move.
Their current location, sighted by Nork artillery (which they have massive, massive amounts) was actually a very passive position -- it effectively made our own troops hostages and confirmed our intent to not start trouble with the Norks.
Now, we'll have more freedom to act.
Posted by: AML at May 23, 2004 12:31 PMThe South Koreans I meet here in the states drink deeply from the well of Anti-Americanism at home and abroad. They have completely forgotten that the only reason they have VCRs and toasters, and exist as a relatively free country is that tens of thousands of our citizens died protecting their country. In fact, they seem to blame the entire Korean War on us and resent everytime anyone brings it up. As far as I am concerned, with the exception of the Korean groups that protest in support of the US in Seoul from time to time, they can all drop dead. America has no friends. The sooner we learn thi and move on, the better.
Posted by: Georgie Gaudi at May 23, 2004 8:29 PMGeorgie:
Resentment is more comfortable than Gratitude.
Posted by: mike earl at May 23, 2004 11:33 PM